The chill in the air, the dropping of leaves, and the disappearance of flip-flops can only mean one thing: the peak of fall is among us! Yet we are so caught up with our costume stresses and grade guesses, that we often forget to cherish this iconic season.
And in the eternal summer of Miami, autumn never seems quite as relevant. To us, fall means refocusing with the start of the school year and a time to appreciate the people around us, whether they’re new friends or ones we’ve known for years.
It’s easy to lose the rich spirit when Starbucks has conditioned Miamians to embrace fall with their expensive seasonal drinks. Getting these can be a hassle on busy mornings and is quite the splurge, with one drink costing up to $7.
To help you enjoy this fleeting season, we found that making quick homemade drinks is the perfect fall pick-me-up. Besides helping you get through the school day, it is a reminder to pause and think of what this time of change means. We hope this list helps you cultivate a personal connection to this special season and becomes a tradition to enjoy every year.
BROWN SUGAR SHAKEN ESPRESSO
This drink has four easy steps, making it convenient for busy mornings. Microwaving the water and sugar instantly gives it a sweet flavor, and the addition of milk gives it a creamy finish. We found the flavors blend seamlessly when iced. It tastes just like the Starbucks version, but better as you can adjust the sweetness to your liking. With your own dash of fall spices like a pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg, you can make it even better!
RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 long shot of espresso
- milk (to taste)
- ice (to taste)
Instructions:
- In a cup, combine 1 tsp of sugar and 1 tsp of water.
- Microwave the mixture in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until the sugar is fully dissolved.
- Pour in a long shot of espresso, stirring the syrup with the coffee to combine.
- Secure a lid on the cup and shake gently to mix.
- Fill the cup with ice and add milk to your liking.
HOT CHOCOLATE
The first time we tried this recipe, we were distraught. It tasted like brown water. But, after careful review of the footage, we realized we forgot the sugar! The second time around it was much more appealing, having the expected comforting flavors. Truthfully we might just have been comforted by our ability to make hot chocolate. We appreciated the smoothness of milk over water. Time-wise, it took about 20 minutes, but if you have all the ingredients it shouldn’t be hard–just make sure you add the sugar! Overall, it was a great way to enjoy homemade hot chocolate, and we’re excited to try it again soon!
RECIPE Adapted from: https://celebratingsweets.com/homemade-hot-chocolate/
Ingredients:
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
- 2 tablespoons sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
- a pinch of salt
- whipped cream or marshmallows for topping (optional)
Instructions:
- In a small bowl, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and salt.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, warm the milk until it’s steaming but not boiling.
- Whisk the dry mixture into the warm milk until well combined and smooth.
- Remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Pour the hot chocolate into two mugs and top with whipped cream or marshmallows if desired.
CINNAMON HOT APPLE CIDER
We highly recommend whipping this up and letting it simmer while you read the rest of the article- you won’t regret it! With just three ingredients, you can quickly put it on a pot and enjoy as the comforting aromas of fall fill your house. This has delicious hints of cinnamon, apple, and clove. It is super simple to make and will not disappoint. We thoroughly enjoyed every sip and will definitely be making this again!
RECIPE
Ingredients:
- apple cider
- cinnamon stick or ground cinnamon
- cloves
Instructions:
- In a pot, heat apple cider with cinnamon sticks and cloves.
- Simmer for about 10 minutes.
- Serve warm.
PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE
This coffee has a perfect sweet consistency. We used half and half instead of milk, which we highly recommend as it gives an extra-rich texture. The delicious spices in there blend great with the underlying coffee taste, creating a pleasant and crisp drink. This latte, however, requires practice to be made swiftly as it has many steps. It was worth it for an amazing fall taste. There’s a reason why it’s seen as the fall staple, and we can’t wait to make it again!
Ingredients:
- 2 shots of espresso (or 1/2 cup of freshly brewed coffee)
- 1 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons pumpkin puree
- 1-2 tablespoons maple syrup, to sweeten
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions:
- Pour milk into a small pot and heat over medium-low heat until it is hot and almost simmering.
- Make an espresso and pour it into a large mug. Add pumpkin puree, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice, and vanilla and stir until well combined.
- Use a milk frother to froth your milk then pour into the mug on top of the pumpkin espresso mixture.
CHAI LATTE
This chai latte was the best drink we made. Its creamy texture and strong blend of spices tasted like the beginning of a perfect fall day. Plus, it was quick and easy to make. We recommend watching the water-chai ratio to not get an overpowering spicy aftertaste. This drink invoked in us a deep sense of nostalgia, and for us, is the drink of this wonderful season!
RECIPE
Ingredients:
- 2 cups water
- 2 tablespoons loose-leaf chai or 2-3 chai tea bags
- 1 cup milk (dairy or non-dairy)
- 1-2 cinnamon sticks
- 4-5 whole cloves
- 4-5 cardamom pods
- 2-3 teaspoons sweetener (sugar, honey, or maple syrup to taste)
- optional: spices for garnish (cinnamon, nutmeg, or cardamom)
Instructions:
- In a saucepan, bring water to a boil.
- Once boiling, remove the pan from heat and add the chai, cloves, cardamom, and cinnamon. Let steep for about 5-7 minutes.
- In a separate saucepan, heat the milk over medium heat until it’s steaming but not boiling. If you have a frother, you can froth the milk.
- Remove the chai from the heat, and strain out the tea leaves or bags. Stir in your sweetener while in the tea.
- Pour the chai into mugs, filling them about halfway. Top with the steamed milk.
